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When
the waters are still relatively cool and toothy critters are still
at least a primary
bonus factor, it is prime time to reach for one or more of the most
versatile of all bass
and pike baits. It is time to delve into the world of spinnerbaits.
What makes the spinner so effective for aggressive gamefish is both
its propensity
for turning on the bigger specimens of any susceptible specie, its
inherent potential
to cover water as quickly as any bait, its visual and audible appeal
in this season of
often stained and sometimes outright muddied waters, and its relative
ease of use on
just about any type of tackle.
Clearly,
this is a most impressive litany of positives to be considered by
even the
most cynical and jaded of anglers. As an added plus, I might also
add the relative
affordability of these most handy of lures.
I’m
not sure anybody really knows how the spinnerbait was actually discovered.
It’s a matter of as much mystery and uncertainty to angling
adherents as who really
invented baseball is to we who are also devout fans of that greatest
of games. It most
certainly looks less like any potential fish food to be found in
the water as any other
artificial genre ever developed .Odds are its not the looks that
is responsible for its
undeniable productivity, but more likely the aforementioned appeal
to the sportfish’s
sense of sound, certainly a major factor at least in the buzzbait
configuration.
The
spinnerbait exists in essentially four clearly identifiable categories;
one is the
walleye-oriented “weight-forward” variation- like the
venerable “ Erie Dearie”- which
we are not discussing in this article, in which our focus is more
on true sportfish.
Therefore,
let us focus on the remaining big three and how to best utilize
them:
IN- LINES - ( Mepps ,Panther
Martin , Shyster)
The primary prerequisite for most efficiently employing these popular
versions is the
all-but-essential employment of a ball-bearing swivel, not one of
those cheap and
detrimental “snap-swivels”, that will do three important
things to recommend their use:
a) add weight to your offering- especially important when using
the
1/32 and 1/16 versions on your ultra-light, a particular passion
of mine,
b) help reduce dreaded line twist, and,
c) facilitate greatly the vital acceleration of the blade.
BUZZBAITS
Strictly a surface bait, the buzzer is available in a variety of
not-so-different variations
and is at its most useful in lowlight conditions and/or when bass
or northerns are at
their most active, such as in the visible herding of baitfish.
For more
on this most exciting of methods, contact me about our newest ‘Buckeye
Angler” video “Buzzin’ Largemouth”, filmed entirely
in this area and only on
public waters, and also soon available at your local Gander Mountain
store in
both DVD and VHS formats.
SAFETY
PIN STYLE -
Available with blade counts now numbering from the most versatile
single to as many
as five, the current rage, ostensibly presented to best simulate
a group of scattering
minnows. Dual blade configurations are the most popular, but the
single blade plumbs
the depths much better than its more buoyant cousin and is effective
shallow as well.
As
with a buzzbait, tie these on directly, as they are equipped with
their own swivel,
ball-bearing being eminently more desirable. Opt for titanium in
waters known to also
be frequented by pike or muskie, as they’ll often mess up the
otherwise fine stainless
steel wire versions.You can catch smallies on these types, but in-lines
are preferable
for even the biggest of ol’ Mr. Bucketmouth’s smaller-mouthed
relatives.
Most
eventually accomplished bass anglers used a spinner for their first
lure. This is
understandable in that they are so easy to use. Any fine-tuning
will occur with practice.
One
suggestion is, as with a crankbait, to always be hitting something,
whether it be
a shoreline, the bottom, or tree limbs, a personal favorite. A selection
of spinnerbaits
should be featured in every serious angler’s tackle box.
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